With a suspenseful, adventurous plot; a strong protagonist; and valuable messages about maturity and survival, Gary Paulsen's "Hatchet" is more than just an enjoyable read for young adults. It's also a useful case study for teaching the elements of literature to sixth-graders. The story of 13-year-old Brian's survival after a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness portrays how techniques like setting development, characterization and theme work together in creating a compelling narrative.

Boy Meets Wilderness: Conflict

Conflict, the central problem a character faces, is the driving force behind a story's plot. Conflict in literature can occur within a character as he faces a major decision, between two characters or between a character and his environment. In "Hatchet," the primary conflict is between Brian and the untamed Canadian wilderness as Brian is not only young, but comes from the city and is used to its modern conveniences. From a moose to a tornado to an unceasing cloud of mosquitos, Brian faces multiple natural obstacles that complicate his struggle for survival.

Maturing in the Middle of Nowhere: Characterization

Characterization is how the author makes a character's personality known to readers through actions, thoughts and interactions with others. In "Hatchet," Brian's response to difficulties proves him to be resourceful and persistent; he uses his few possessions to acquire shelter, weapons and food, and the obstacles he faces only increase his will to live rather than tempting him to give up. Characterization is also revealed through the ways the protagonist changes. While Brian feels depressed and angry in the face of his parents' divorce, being in the wilderness decreases his self-pity and makes him more self-reliant.

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Beauty and Brutality: Setting

Setting is the place where a story's action occurs. Because Brian's primary conflict is against nature, location plays a critical role in the development of "Hatchet." Throughout the story, the lake Brian's plane crashes into, the surrounding forests and rocky ledges are portrayed as both majestic and savage. Brian enjoys the beautiful sunsets and the stillness of his environment, but he also battles forces of nature -- a tornado and an angry moose. Brian's relationship to the setting is also crucial as he gradually comes to think of his cave-like shelter as home and identifies with an initially foreign way of life.

The Key to Survival: Symbolism

In literature, objects, places and actions often take on symbolic significance that point to a work's main ideas. Paulsen's title choice makes it clear that the hatchet Brian's mother gives him for his trip to visit his father is this book's primary symbol. The hatchet makes survival in the wilderness possible; it empowers Brian to start a fire, make tools and build a shelter. When Brian drops the hatchet in the lake while attempting to get the plane's survival pack, his momentary terror demonstrates how the hatchet symbolizes self-sufficiency. Without it, he is helpless.

No Pity Parties: Theme

A theme is the main idea that underlies a literary work. Themes must be expressed in the form of a sentence, not just a concept. For example, instead of merely survival, the theme of "Hatchet" might be that when you are confronted with a challenging situation, you can either pity yourself and give up or use whatever mental and physical resources you have to solve the problem. While Brian's isolation initially seems insurmountable, a teacher's words of wisdom inspire him to "get motivated" and make a plan to overcome his obstacles.

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About the Author

Kori Morgan holds a Bachelor of Arts in professional writing and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and has been crafting online and print educational materials since 2006. She taught creative writing and composition at West Virginia University and the University of Akron and her fiction, poetry and essays have appeared in numerous literary journals.